592 
EESEAECHES OE DE. HOEMAXX ASB M. CAHOEES 
Action of Heat upon the Hydrated Oxide of Teiethtlamtlphosphonium. 
On heating this oxide a small quantity of an inflammable gas is evolved, a liquid being 
formed at the same time, which boils at about 280° C., and obviously corresponds to the 
binoxide of triethylphosphine. Two distinct changes may occur in this case. Since the 
oxide contains several radicals, it is possible that either ethyl or amyl may be eliminated 
in this decomposition, and the liquid simultaneously generated must therefore contain 
(E,Ayl)PO„ or E.PO,. 
The higher boiling-point of the compound, and the deportment of the corresponding 
nitrogen-term (the oxide of triethylamylamnionium), which on distillation furnishes 
diethylamylamine together with water and oleflant gas, are in favour of the flrst 
assumption. Accordingly, the inflammable gas would also in this case be hydride of 
ethyl, and the transformation of the oxide of triethylamylphosphonium under the 
influence of heat would be represented by the equation 
(E3Ayl)PO, HO 
V , y 
^ Y 
Oxide of triethylamyl- 
phosphonium. 
= (E 2 Ayl)02 + 
Binoxide of diethyl- 
amylphospliine. 
EH 
Hydride 
of etliyl. 
Experimentally the question remains undecided. 
EXPEEIMEHTS IH THE METHYL -SEEIES. 
The results recorded in the preceding sections afibrd a tolerably complete Hew of the 
phosphorus-bases. We may therefore be brief in describing the experiments which 
we have made with the methyl-compounds. 
Tiimethylphosphine. 
This remarkable body is obtained by the same process which we have mmutely 
described for the preparation of the corresponding ethyl-base. Zinc-methyl and ter- 
chloride of phosphorus furnish the compound of chloride of zmc and trimethylphos- 
phine, from which the base may be expelled by the action of potassa. All the pre- 
cautions which have been mentioned as necessary in the preparation of the ethyl- 
base, are required in a higher degree for the methylated body. Since zinc-meth)d 
attracts oxygen even with greater aHdity than zinc-ethyl, the current of carbonic acid 
must be continuously maintained for a long period. The intensity with which zinc- 
methyl decomposes terchloride of phosphorus, is not inferior to the violent reaction 
between caustic baryta and anhydrous sulphuric acid. The mixing cannot, therefore, 
be too slowly effected. In expelling trimethylphosphine from its zinc-compound, refri- 
geration by ice is absolutely necessary, since this body is far more volatile than the ethyl- 
base. The distillation must be made in hydrogen gas, and the current of gas must 
moreover flow very slowly, otherwise, however perfect and careful may be the arrange- 
